قَد رَأَيتَ القُرونَ قَبلُ تَفانَت

دَرَسَت وَاِنقَضَت سَريعاً وَبانَت

You've seen eras before this fade away

Studied and collapsed quickly before your eyes

كَم أُناسٍ رَأَيتَ أَكرَمَتِ الدُنـ

ـيا بِبَعضِ العُروضِ ثُمَّ أَهانَت

How many people endowed with worldly goods

For a pittance were honored then disdained

كَم أُمورٍ قَد كُنتَ شَدَدتَ فيها

ثُمَّ حَوَّنتَها عَلَيكَ فَهانَت

How many matters you insisted on strongly

Then bent them to your will and they obeyed

هِيَ دُنيا كَحَيَّةٍ تَنفُثُ السُمـ

ـمَ وَإِن كانَتِ المَجَسَّةُ لانَت

This is a world that spews venom like a snake

Though it may seem soft to the touch